Brussels, 22/09/2006
On 13 September, the Zimbabwean Police arrested and assaulted hundreds of trades unionists, following peaceful protests by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trades Unions (ZCTU) over the state of the economy and food shortages.
At a high level meeting with the European Commission, ETUC representatives condemned this appalling situation and called on the European Union to do everything possible to convince the Zimbabwean authorities to respect international conventions on human and trade union rights, to stop the beating of detainees, and to halt spurious legal proceedings against trade unionists.
The ETUC warmly welcomes the statement on trade unions in Zimbabwe issued today by the Finnish EU Presidency. “The EU agreed that the situation in Zimbabwe is of grave concern,” noted ETUC General Secretary John Monks. European leaders have repeatedly urged the government of Zimbabwe to take steps to improve it, but there has been little progress. The ETUC was assured that as long as the government continues to engage in serious violations of human rights, freedom of opinion, association and peaceful assembly, the EU will apply restrictive measures against all those responsible.
The ETUC, together with international trade union representatives and its Belgian affiliates, is seeking a meeting with Mr. Gift Punungwe, the Ambassador of Zimbabwe in Brussels, to underline the international trade union movement's grave concerns, but up now this has not been granted.
{Note to Editors
The arrested union activists and officials were held in detention for days without access to medical attention or legal representatives. Wellington Chibebe (ZCTU General Secretary) and several other union leaders sustained such severe injuries from beatings that they have been hospitalised. Last week's brutal crackdown is the latest in a series of attacks on trade unionists and human rights activists by the police. The ZCTU, which plays a pivotal role in organising civic opposition, has become the prime target of the government's onslaught. The arrested trades unionists were released on bail and must appear in court on 3 October 2006, facing criminal charges.}